New King James Version
Acts 8:1
1Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Acts 8:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
- New International Version (NIV)And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria.
Context of Acts 8:1
Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.
Read all of Acts 8Acts 8:1 word by word
Σαῦλος δὲ ἦν συνευδοκῶν τῇ ἀναιρέσει αὐτοῦ.¶ Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ διωγμὸς μέγας ἐπὶ τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τὴν ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις· πάντες δὲ διεσπάρησαν κατὰ τὰς χώρας τῆς Ἰουδαίας καὶ Σαμαρείας πλὴν τῶν ἀποστόλων.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andδέde · thenG1161
- SaulΣαῦλοςSaulos · SaulG4569
- wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- consenting untoσυνευδοκέωsuneudokeō · to agree toG4909
- hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- deathὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- deathἀναίρεσιςanairesis · murderG336
- atἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- thatἐκεῖνοςekeinos · thatG1565
- timeἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250
- there wasγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- a greatμέγαςmegas · greatG3173
- persecutionδιωγμόςdiōgmos · persecutionG1375
- againstἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- the churchἐκκλησίαekklēsia · assemblyG1577
- JerusalemἹεροσόλυμαHierosoluma · JerusalemG2414
- andτεte · and/bothG5037
- they wereδιασπείρωdiaspeirō · to scatterG1289
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- throughoutκατάkata · according toG2596
- the regionsχώραchōra · countryG5561
- of JudeaἸουδαίαIoudaia · JudeaG2449
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- SamariaΣαμάρειαSamareia · SamariaG4540
- exceptπλήνplēn · but/howeverG4133
- the apostlesἀπόστολοςapostolos · apostleG652
Cross-references for Acts 8:1
- Acts 7:58and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
- Acts 22:20And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’
- Acts 5:33When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them.
- Acts 7:54When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.
- Matthew 10:25It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!
- Matthew 22:6And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them.
- Matthew 23:34Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city,
- Luke 11:49Therefore the wisdom of God also said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’
- John 15:20Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
- John 16:2They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.
- Acts 2:47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
- Acts 7:38“This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, the one who received the living oracles to give to us,
- Acts 11:22Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch.
- Acts 13:1Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
- Acts 8:4Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.
- Acts 11:19Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only.
Commentaries on Acts 8:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Saul was consenting unto his death - So inveterate was the hatred that this man bore to Christ and his followers that he delighted in their destruction. So blind was his heart with superstitious zeal that he thought he did God service by offering him the blood of a fellow creature, whose creed he supposed to be erroneous. The word signifies gladly consenting, being pleased with his murderous work! How dangerous is a party spirit; and how destructive may…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1And Saul was consenting - Was pleased with his being put to death and approved it. Compare Acts 22:20. This part of the verse should have been connected with the previous chapter. And at that time. - That is, immediately following the death of Stephen. The persecution arose on account of Stephen, Acts 11:19. The tumult did not subside when Stephen was killed. The anger of his persecutors continued to be excited against all Christians. They had become so…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Saul persecutes the church. (1-4) Philip's success at Samaria. Simon the sorcerer baptized. (5-13) The hypocrisy of Simon detected. (14-25) Philip and the Ethiopian. (26-40) Verses 1-4 Though persecution must not drive us from our work, yet it may send us to work elsewhere. Wherever the established believer is driven, he carries the knowledge of the gospel, and makes known the preciousness of Christ in every place. Where a simple desire of doing good…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-4Saul was there: Compare 9:1–2; 22:4; 26:9–11; Galatians 1:13–14. This major attack against the church caused all believers except the apostles to flee. Instead of losing enthusiasm, they preached the good news about Jesus wherever they went.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-41. Saul was consenting unto his death--The word expresses hearty approval. they were all scattered abroad--all the leading Christians, particularly the preachers, agreeably to their Lord's injunctions (Mt 10:23), though many doubtless remained, and others (as appears by Ac 9:26-30) soon returned. except the apostles--who remained, not certainly as being less exposed to danger, but, at whatever risk, to watch over the infant cause where it was most needful…Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 8:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Acts 8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries